Tag Archives: art

Tarotcast for the Week of November 26, 2017

Above is the art work Starburst by Barbara Morgan. She is widely known for her photographs of Martha Graham’s Dance Troup: Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs. However, her worked is varied from Summer’s Children: A Photographic Cycle of Life at Camp to her abstract photographs of dancers and light. The thread that runs through her work is ability to capture the power of transient gestures of movement.

Her work transcends the subject – it stirs the soul. When we watch a dance performance or live through a summer at camp we take with us a holistic feeling of what we have experienced. But when we see that movement in mid-form, it transcends the concept of the whole dance. In that suspension of time, we see our spirit

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.

Aries – The Emperor – The Emperor paves the way for manifestation to come with ease. At work this can look like getting a project finally started or make a big headway with one already begun. This week opportunities will arise that will help you lay the foundations for a successful future. Your challenge is to take advantage of them when they come up.

 

Artist : Barbara Morgan (United States of America, b.1900, d.1992)

Taurus – Eight of Wands – Last week, the Chariot wanted you to bring more balance and control into your life. The Eight of Wands continues that theme. This card wants you to take action. Aim for your goals around balance and control and take the steps to setting them in motion. Your challenge is to divide the path or journey into manageable and obtainable mini-goals.
Continue reading Tarotcast for the Week of November 26, 2017

Tarotcast for the Week of November 19, 2017

Juan Gris Cubism

Juan Gris was part of the Cubist art movement. He started studying engineering and you can see how mathematics influenced his painting style. He like many other cubist painted a lot of still life, using the same elements again and again. Deconstructing and reconstructing to create a new memory of the our day to day existence. His main menu of items are a newspaper, a glass, a guitar, and either pears or grapes in a bowl.

My Thanksgiving table memories are like cubist still lives. Different facets of the same ingredients, turkey, cranberry sauce in a bowl, potatoes, stuffing, some green vegetable… Traditions give us a sense of continuity, and particularity Thanksgiving brings a sense of comfort and familiarity in its food traditions. Even though the people change around the table by growing older, growing new or growing apart, the ingredients remains the same. The familiar food is what strings together and conjures the cascade of kaleidoscope like memories of the people that have sat at my table, and I am grateful.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.

Aries – Knight of Pentacles – The Knight of Pentacles lesson is all about the balance of moving forward while still taking time to get off your horse and smell the flowers. You have a lot to do this week and you will get it done if you take a slow and steady path. The challenge with this card is to take breaks along the way. Remember there are more meaningful moments along the journey then the one at the goal.

*Taurus – Chariot -.The Chariot is a card of movement and change that is under your control. For all of you traveling for Thanksgiving, the Chariot is quite practical. This card advises you to check your tire pressure, make sure you know where you are going, and double check you have what you need for the trip. For all of you staying home or that do not celebrate Thanksgiving, this week’s challenge is about preparation and balance to create ease while growing the aspect you want to move forward. Simply this can look like focusing on having balanced meals, or more complex having a balance between work and play in your life.

*Gemini – Wheel – The Wheel comes into your life to help you change the fortune in any aspect of your life. The challenge is that you have to take a chance to expand your horizons. The only thing to be very of aware of with the Wheel is not to bet more than you are willing to lose. This is a card of chance but has the potential of great reward. Step up to the Wheel and spin.

Cancer – Five of Wands – The Five cards all bring their own kind of chaos into our lives. The Wands’ chaos are around our passion and spiritual quests. Your challenge is to not get distracted from your passion and spirit into other people’s drama. This week use the natural gift of the crab and side step away from trouble.

*Leo – Empress – The Empress is the Momma card of the deck. This week is around dealing with the good and bad Mother energy – yours and others. The way to work with this energy is to examine the way you and others nurture or not nurture each other, and emulate the better parts. The challenge, no matter your gender, is to honor and imitate the inner mother that you needed as a child to yourself and people that are around you this week.

Virgo – Four of Wands – The Four of Wands represents home. This doesn’t not have to be the place you were born or the place that you live now. It is the home that warms your heart. The challenge is to seek out or create that feeling of home in your life. Comfortable and cozy should be at least two of the adjectives you strive for this week.

Libra – Ace of Swords – The Ace of Swords advise to hone your mind to laser sharpness. You will need your intellect this week. The challenge with this Ace is to keep your mind open to new ideas. The old way of doing things won’t work. On a more practical note with the Ace of Swords- be careful around sharp things (that includes tongues).

Scorpio – Two of Swords – Last week The Magician, your card for the coming year, challenged you to experiment, try new things, make mistakes, go down rabbit holes just for fun. The Two of Swords continues this theme saying there is no time like the present to try something new. The challenge is not to get caught up with what choices to make, but just pick something and try it out. You can always decided to stop and drop the idea, path or decision.   Remember, experimentation is the key and you learn as much from what you don’t like as you do from what you do.

Sagittarius – Queen of Swords – The Queen of Swords is the planner and knowledge gatherer. She thinks and communicates before she acts. Your challenge this week is to is do just that. However, be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.

 

Capricorn – Seven of Cups – Let’s examine sevens a bit closer since this is your second in a row. Sevens are about expansion and contraction in your life. Last week the focus was on your physical -work plane. This week the focus moves to examining your hearts desires. The challenge is to day dreaming without boundaries. You all are too practical to worry about the illusion side of this card. So really try and have fun thinking up what the good life would look like if you had all the health, money and time you needed.

*Aquarius – Magician – Ok the Magician is back. At the beginning of this month he challenged you to experiment and not shy away from your mistakes. Then Justice and the Devil challenged you to work on how you blocked yourself when experimenting. Now that you have hopefully learned this lessons, the Magician has returned, so back to the drawing board or the laboratory that is your life. Have fun experimenting – in your kitchen, your workplace and/or your life.

Pisces – King of Swords – The King of Swords is the master of strategy and boundaries. You will need your wits and strong boundaries about you to navigate this week . However, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, so your challenge is to also remain flexible.

 

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

 

Nina

Tarotcast for Week of November 5, 2017

Dorothy P. Lathrop Dorothy P. Lathrop

The illustrations above are by the artist Dorothy P. Lathrop. She was born in Albany New York, and was a prolific illustrator from 1919 to 1967. She was an animal activist and vegetarian, and you can see her love of animals in the details of them in her illustrations. Many of her models were from her and her sister’s menagerie of animals that lived with them throughout their lives. Interestingly, I have these hanging on my wall for the past 20 years and until doing research on her did not know what artist had illustrated the above pieces.

We define illustration as a decoration, interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process, designed for integration in published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, video games and films. Sadly illustration and the people who make them are not consider fine art. I beg to differ. Illustrations are usually the first art forms we encounter as children. They illuminate our imagination, and help us visualize and learn the constructs of language. Though fine art can move us with emotion, and, if we have enough art history, ignite our intellect . Illustration as an art form is better defined by the word’s original meaning in Middle English – illumination; spiritual or intellectual enlightenment. Illustration gives our stories and minds wings.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.

Aries – King of Swords – The King of Swords is the decision maker. This week will be filled with choices and big decisions. The best way to get through this week is to be methodical in your thinking.   If you are feeling overwhelmed step back and strategize with someone you trust.

Taurus – Six of Pentacles -. The Six of Pentacles is the mini karma card. Remember that ever thing you do has an effect. The more positive or negative you put in the world the more positive or negative you receive. The challenge is to realize that not all karma flows directly or timely. Goodwill and faith are the keys this week.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of November 5, 2017

Tarotcast for Week of October 22, 2017

Viktor Vasnetsov

This is a painting by Viktor Vasnetsov  titled the Three Princess of the Underworld. It is based on the Russian fairytale The Three Men of Power- Evening, Midnight and Sunrise. This fairytale has the familiar themes of princess in distress, usually three poor but gallant brothers go off to save them, but it is the youngest who saves the day. This youngest son or daughter is a common theme in many stories like Joseph in the bible, The Golden Bird, The Red Ettin, Boot and the Troll, to name a few. What is the need for us to see the youngest win?

I hypothesis that the youngest theme was a pushback of the old world system where in reality the eldest got the crown, the girl, the prestige. In ancient times, fairy tales became parables of hope to the youngest and maybe made the eldest more considerate. But today the fairytale has expanded into reality. Our re-telling of history or the news highlighting the underdog even though these are places where unbiased truth should rule.

We all rally around the smallest guy on the team when he get to first base or the girl who becomes an astronaut. I hope we all still do, but is our focus on the fairytale ending skewing reality? Are we making choices based on hoping things into authenticity, backing the “underdog or outsider” for that sole reason, or even celebrating anomalies instead of correcting and dealing with the injustices that are real? Please still rally around the “youngest” winning, read fairy tales and have hope, but also see that genderism, racism, sexism and other “isms” are still predominant problems that the “youngest” still face.

P.S.  I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.  Please support your local artists this holiday season. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

*Aries – Tower – The best way to make it through a Tower week is to be cautious, keep your expectations low, and go with the flow. The Tower shakes things down that are not working. Keeping your eyes open for falling debris, and be okay with this restructuring. It will make you safer and more prepared the next time the poop hits the fan.

Taurus – Two of Cups -. The Two of Cups emphasis compassion, partnership, and trust. This card is begging you to engage in some lovin’. Your only challenge is in finding the time.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of October 22, 2017

Tarotcast for Week Of September 24, 2017

Above is a photo of the blue-jeans poisonous dart frog. It is considered one of the ten most poisonous frogs in the world. Poison frogs hold some of the most potent neurotoxins on earth, yet how do they not poison themselves? Scientists are getting closer to the answer. Normally a neurotoxin binds itself to receptors in an animal’s receptors nervous system. This can cause hypertension, seizures and even death. However, scientists have found that the same genetic mutation, in three evolutionarily different frog groups, prevents the toxins from acting on the frogs’ nerve receptors and still allowing regular nerve function. The study of these frogs are helping scientist design drugs that mimic this selective nerve blocker to block pain in humans without blocking other nerve impulses.

I also find them cute and amazingly beautiful. They are tiny mobile abstract paintings of the rainforest.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Knight of Cups – The Knight of Cups’ lesson is about wearing your heart on your sleeve. Though it is great that you are showing more emotion this week, please be careful to whom you are showing it to. The best way to gauge this is to engage only with the people who you can trust.

poisonous frog

Taurus – Four of Pentacles – I’m Late, I’m Late for a very important date, is your theme this week if you are not prepared. The Four of Pentacles is about saving time, money, or resources. However, this card represents the dark side of saving. By trying to save time you end up using more resources. By trying to save money you end up using more time. Or, by trying to save resources you end up using more money. This week, don’t cut corners in the long run you will save the outcome of your projects.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week Of September 24, 2017

Tarotcast for Week of September 17, 2017

Friedrich Schroder Sonnenstern Outsider Art

The definition of art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as a painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. The artwork above is by Friedrich Schroder Sonnenstern. He is a representative of Outsider Art or Art Brut. Outsider Art is art done by self taught art makers who have had no contact with the mainstream art world. Jean Dubuffet collected and brought this “raw art” into the mainstream art world and called it the Collection de l’art brut, which is now housed in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Outsider art now encompasses a variety of art forms like Folk Art, Visionary Art, Marginal Art, Naive Art, and Visionary Environments. It is interesting that even though the definition of art is all encompassing. We still try to categorize it, so we can push against the category that becomes the new form and to once again color outside the lines.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have attached works of Friedrich which may or may not define your card.

Aries – Four of Wands – The Four of Wands’ lessons are around the paradox of feeling at home while feeling your freedom. This is the challenge of this card feeling at home with your decisions, your life, especially when they are unorthodox at least in the eyes of others. This week work on feeling comfortable and proud when you let your freak flag fly.

 

Taurus – Ace of Wands – The Ace of Wands proclaims this is a great week to start projects, explore new places, and follow your passions. The only challenge is to be aware that all this energy and enthusiasm you have could plow over the people around you. Remember to share your empathy along with your passion this week.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of September 17, 2017

Tarotcast for the Week of September 3, 2017

Happy Birthday month Virgos!

Jean-Pierre Jeunet birthday is today. I love all of the films that he has, in combination, written and directed.: Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement, MicMacs, and The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet. He also did a short film called Foutaises -Things I Like, Things I Hate which I also love.

These movies have a gloomy quality to them which I find to be part of Virgo’s character. However, it is not the darkness that makes these films or people great. It is the contrast of deep themes of death and despair told through absurd and funny vignettes of love and life. This is one of the qualities of Virgo’s dharma to see the suffering but find the beauty, love and laughter that lives along side it. This is even the quality of Virgo’s birth month. The end of summer and the beginning of fall, where autumn portrays death in the beauty of fall colors.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Six of Wands – This week find a stopping point in a project/life. The Six of Wands is challenge you to take a breather before jumping into the next phase. Take some time to pat yourself on the back for all your hard work and the progresses you have made. You deserve it.

*Taurus – Wheel of Fortune – Time to take a turn at the wheel this week. The Wheel challenges you to take advantage of a change of fortune in your life. This can be good or even a bad set of circumstances that can catapult you out of what has been a redundant cycle. The big thing is change is here so grasp the brass ring and get off the carousel.
Continue reading Tarotcast for the Week of September 3, 2017